consociations in the county, where the difficulty ariseth,) and the fuller council of those two adjoining consociations, shall hear, judge, determine, and finally issue such case according to the word of God. (Sayb. Art. VII.)

XI. Proceedings when the Church refuses to abide by judgment of the Council.

1. If any pastor and church doth obstinately refuse a due attendance, and conformity to the determination of the council, that hath the cognizance of the case, and determineth it as above, after due patience used, they shall be reputed guilty of scandalous contempt. (Sayb. Art. VI.)

2. Such pastor and church, are to be dealt with as the rule of God's word doth provide, i. e. following the analogy of the rule, given by Christ, in Matthew XVIII; 15, 16, 17. (Sayb. Art. VI.)

3. If the offending church, and pastor, refuse to have the admonition of the consociated church, expressed by the council, then, after due patience, the sentence of non-communion shall be declared against such pastor and church. And the churches of the district, are severally to approve of the said sentence, by withdrawing from the communion of the pastor

and church, which so refuseth to be heard. (Sayb. Art. VI. See also above Part I. Art. II.2.)

XII. Select Councils.

1. The right of a church to ask advice of any other churches in cases of difficulty, is not taken away by our ecclesiastical confederation, yet the party concerned has always a right, to have his cause heard and determined by the consociation, after the church has proceded to sentence of excommunication against him.

2. In Litchfield South, if it be requested by any offender, when prosecuted in any particular church, he or she shall have a right, (by the consent of the church,) to an advisory council to be mutually chosen by such church and offender, previously to a hearing and judgment by the church; unless by mutual consent of the parties, such case shall be immediately referred to the consociation.

3. The result of a select council, should be entered upon the records of the church; and in Litchfield North, it is distinctly required that an authentic copy of the result, be deposited with the register of the consociation to be kept on file.

4. No aggrieved party in a consociated church has a right in any case to call an ex parte council, for the redress of grievances; no church is required to comply with such a call, or to attend to the advice of such a council;-our ecclesiastical confederation having provided a more excellent way.

PART THIRD.

OF PARTICULAR ASSOCIATIONS.

I. Membership in the Association.

1. THE teaching elders of the churches in each county or district become an association by their own consent and covenant. (Sayb. Art. XII.) He who consents to become a teaching elder in a consociated church, consents to become a member of the association, but does not become actually a member, till the associated pastors, upon their satisfaction of his fitness, consent, either formally or informally, to receive him.

2. Ordained ministers of the gospel, having no pastoral relation to a church, but exercising their ministry within the bounds of an association, either as teachers in a theological school, or as supplying a congregation statedly with the ministration of the word, ought to be in connection with the association of the district

within which they reside, and become such by mutual consent.

3. A minister dismissed from his pastoral charge, and still exercising his ministry occasionally, does not cease to be a member of the association, but is under their fraternal inspection in all that concerns his ministerial character, and may sit in their meetings to aid with his advice and vote.

4. A minister ordained to the work of an evangelist whether as a missionary to foreign parts, or to labor among the destitute at home, ought to be connected with some association till such time, as it shall be convenient for him to be united with some other body.

II. Duties of the Association.

The duties of the associated pastors in each county or division of a county, are,

1. To consult the duties of their office, and common interest of the churches, [Sayb. Art. XII.] by carefully inquiring, at least twice in each year, into the state of religion in their respective charges:

2. To send three delegates each year to the general association, and by the hands of those delegates an authentic report of the state of religion in that district:

3. To act upon such matters as may be referred to them by the general association:

4. To consider and resolve questions and cases of importance which shall be offered by any among themselves or others: (Sayb. Art. XII.)

5. To examine candidates for the ministry, and by a certificate of approbation, (commonly called a license) to recommend to the churches such as they find to be duly qualified: (Sayb. Art. XII.)

6. To recommend to bereaved churches, on their application for advice, such persons as may be fit to be called and settled in the work of the Gospel ministry among them: (Sayb. Art. XIV.)

7. To take notice of any among themselves that may be accused of scandal or heresy unto them, or of scandal or heresy cognizable by them; to examine the matter carefully; and, if they find just occasion, to direct to the calling of the council of the consociated churches of the district, that such offenders may be duly proceeded against before the council. (Art. XIII.)

III. Officers of the Association.

1. A moderator and a scribe are chosen at the opening of each meeting.

2. Each association has its register who records in a book, the minutes put into his hands by the scribe of each meeting.